Pregnancy Perfection by Ana Brandt

PREGNANCY

Perfection

tips for photographing your pregnancy

A N A M A R I A

B R A N D T

Documenting your pregnancy can not only create wonderful memories of this expecting time, but it will also be a treasured keepsake for the future interest of your unborn child. Ana Brandt, Orange County California photographer and Mother of three explains some helpful tips when planning pregnancy photos.

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Every pregnant Mother grows and carries differently, and so determining the best time for pregnancy photos will vary for everyone. Usually between 28-36 weeks is a good time and it is often before the real swelling begins. You want to make sure you have a nice round bump and are visibly pregnant. For those carrying twins, it could be as early as 28 weeks, while others may not “pop” until 32 weeks. Pregnancy sessions can be exhausting so it is important to eat a full meal and drink plenty of water before and after your session. If you are on bed rest or have any other concerns, you should let your Doctor know that you want to take pregnancy photos to make sure there aren’t any risks involved.

Figuring out when to take pregnancy photos is one thing, finding a photographer and what to wear is a whole other set of things to consider. If budget allows, it is best to hire a professional photographer that specializes in maternity images. Having your photo taken while pregnant is one thing, but if you truly want to capture the “art” of it, then going to a specialist is a must.

If you choose a photographer that specializes in maternity images, then most often then not, they will have a wardrobe from you to choose from. If you are having a friend, family or amateur photographer capture your images, then you might be on your own for your wardrobe. Not to fear, there are many types of clothing that you can find in your closet and use for your session. Such things are: jeans that go below the belly, tank tops, shrugs or scarves.

P U B L I S H E R

When planning your session, determining your style will set the tone.

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Conservative —-> tight fitting maxi or other dresses, long flow skirts or tight tops work well for showing your bump while keeping covered.

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Sexy ——> Check out your lingerie drawer and pull out some cute bras and boy shorts. If you do not have any that fit, hit the maternity or plus size department store sections and splurge a little.

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Casual ——> Jeans, casual skirts, sweaters and tank tops all work well.

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Romantic —-> Look for dresses that flow, vintage items and accessories, bring out the headbands, scarves and flowers.

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Classic—-> Look for simple clothing that have clean lines, such as bandeaus and a-line skirts.

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Once you have determined your timing, have found a photographer and figured out the clothing, take some time to document some extra special items that represent this time, such as adding sonogram photos or baby shoes.

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Once you have your great images, then what to do? You can have so much fun with your gorgeous images, such as:

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•creating baby shower invitations •creating baby shower guestbooks •scrapbooking •creating canvases for the nursery, frames or other wall art •create memory books •create thank you cards

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One thing for sure is it’s better to capture this time then not! Many women often say they didn’t “feel” up for it, but later regret it. At the end of the day, it’s just one hour or so for a lifetime of memories.

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Ana Brandt can be found online at www.bellybabylove.com and on twitter, instagram, pinterest and facebook.